Should I Book Actual Flight Ticket Instead of Flight Reservation?

No. Buying flight tickets prior to your visa approval is a very risky move, one that is not recommended by any embassy in any country. By purchasing flight tickets, you risk losing money should your application be declined. Also, visa applications can take slightly longer depending on the demand and how much information you have provided. In some cases, people have purchased flight tickets and hotel reservations before they received their visas, because of the processing time, missed their flights and lost their money.

Embassies also recommend that you do not purchase travel tickets before you receive a decision about your visa:

This requirement for a flight reservation is necessary for your visa application to be processed. Without one, your application could be rejected.

But, imagine having to buy a flight ticket for your visa application and then it gets rejected. You would be left with a flight ticket which you cannot use and a massive hole in your wallet! However, there is a way around this situation. Instead of directly purchasing a flight ticket, get a flight reservation for your visa application.

There are a few reasons why you should do this:

1.       You will have the required document for your application

2.       You will not have to fork out hundreds of dollars first

3.       The flight reservation will give all the information that the embassy requires

4.       You will have flexibility to book a flight once your visa gets approved or cancel the reservation if your visa is rejected

5.       If the visa application takes longer to process, you are able to change the dates of travel

6.       In the event of your visa application being rejected, you may not get a full refund from the airline

A flight reservation document looks almost like a flight ticket, except that it does not have a price tag attached to it. Hence, it is also sometimes referred to as a dummy ticket. It comes with a unique reservation ID or code that can be verified from the airlines’ website if the embassy wants. In addition, the flight reservation contains all the information that you would normally have on a flight ticket – point of boarding, point of entry, travel dates, etc.

Most embassies accept a flight itinerary or reservation document as proof of travel on the specified dates. However, do keep in mind that if you are reserving a flight itinerary for your visa application and not actually buying a ticket, it makes good sense to disclose that to the embassy upfront. The flight reservation document helps the embassy validate what you have mentioned in your application form. Therefore, in such cases, honesty is always the best policy. You do not want to get rejected for forging documents or providing false information.

You can also get a confirmed flight reservation through a travel agency or through an online visa agency such as Schengen Visa Itinerary. It is always recommended to get a flight reservation through these agencies because they have a lot of information about airlines, giving you access to cheaper flight deals. Most importantly, you can make the flight reservation without payment!

They also offer Hotel Reservation and affordable Travel Insurance to complete your visa requirements.